PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Questionnaires”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Cognitive interviewing: verbal data in the design and pretesting of questionnaires.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to discuss problems that occur in questionnaire responses and how cognitive interviewing can be used to identify problematic questions prior to using the questionnaire in the field. BACKGROUND: Questionnaire design involves developing wording that is clear, unambiguous and permits respondents successfully to answer the question that is asked. However, a number of problems in relation to respondents' understanding and successfully completing questionnaires have been identified. Cognitive interviewing, an amalgamation of cognitive psychology and survey methodology, has been developed to identify problematic questions that may elicit response error. The overall aim is to use cognitive theory to understand how respondents perceive and interpret questions and to identify potential problems that may arise in prospective survey questionnaires. METHODS: A literature review is used to examine the process of questionnaire design and how cognitive interviewing can be used to reduce sampling error and increase questionnaire response rates. FINDINGS: Cognitive interviewing involves interviewers asking survey respondents to think out loud as they go through a survey questionnaire and tell them everything they are thinking. This allows understanding of the questionnaire from the respondents' perspective rather than that of the researchers. Cognitive interviews have been used in a number of areas in health care research to pretest and validate questionnaires and to ensure high response rates. Interviewing has been found to be highly effective in developing questionnaires for age specific groups (children and adolescents) and in ascertaining respondents' understanding in health surveys prior to distribution. However, cognitive interviews have been criticized for being overly subjective and artificial. CONCLUSION: Cognitive interviews are a positive addition to current methods of pretesting questionnaires prior to distribution to the sample. They are most valuable in pretesting questions that are complex, where questions are sensitive and intrusive and for specific groups for whom questionnaire completion may pose particular difficulties.

Cognitive Science↗
PubMed1997

Estimation of reproducibility and relative validity of the questions included in the EPIC Physical Activity Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The EPIC core questionnaire on lifestyle contains a number of questions on physical activity designed to rank subjects according to level of physical activity (short PA questionnaire). These questions are based on a more extensive questionnaire designed to measure absolute total energy expenditure (extensive PA questionnaire), that was validated in a pilot study preceding EPIC. Reproducibility and relative validity of the short PA questionnaire were estimated by selecting, from the pilot study data, the answers to a number of questions from the extensive questionnaire that resembled those actually included in the short version. METHODS: The population of the pilot study consisted of 126 men and women aged between 20 and 70 years. Reproducibility was estimated by administering the extensive questionnaire three times: at baseline, and after 5 and 11 months. In order to determine the relative validity of the extensive questionnaire, a 3-day activity diary, repeated four times, was used as the reference method. RESULTS: Over the study period (13 months), mean absolute energy expenditure, estimated from the questions included in the short questionnaire, was fairly constant in men but not in women. REPRODUCIBILITY: Spearman correlation coefficients ranged from 0.47 to 0.89 in men, and from 0.49 to 0.81 in women. RELATIVE VALIDITY: Spearman correlation coefficients between the short questionnaire and the diary were between 0.32 and 0.81 for men, and between 0.28 and 0.72 for women. CONCLUSIONS: The questions selected for the short questionnaire are not suitable for estimating energy expenditure at an absolute level. Reproducibility and relative validity of the ranking of subjects seemed satisfactory and comparable to the extensive questionnaire. The results imply that the short questionnaire is suitable for ranking subjects in the EPIC study.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Response rate to mailed epidemiologic questionnaires: a population-based randomized trial of variations in design and mailing routines.

Although self-administered questionnaires are major sources of information in epidemiology, comparatively little has been done to study practical aspects of design and mailing. The objective of this study was to evaluate various measures taken to increase the response rate. A questionnaire was mailed in July 1995 to a random sample (n = 2,000) of the Swedish population aged 20-79 years. Using a randomized factorial study design, the questionnaire and mailing procedures were changed in three ways: preliminary notification, length of the questionnaire, and mention of telephone contact. The overall questionnaire retrieval rate was 49%. Preliminary notification (adjusted odds ratio of receiving a completed questionnaire = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-1.56 relative to the absence of preliminary notification) and short length of the questionnaire (odds ratio = 1.24, 95% CI 1.04-1.48 relative to a long questionnaire) were both independently associated with a higher retrieval rate. Of eight possible combinations, the one comprising preliminary notification, a short questionnaire, and no mention of telephone contact gave the highest retrieval rate, 56%. The lowest retrieval rate, 40%, was observed for the combination of no preliminary notification, a long questionnaire, and mention of telephone contact. Young age, male sex, and urban residence significantly lowered the retrieval rate. Although there was a positive association between the questionnaire retrieval rate and partial nonresponse (missing answers in retrieved questionnaires), the marginal losses due to the latter did not cancel the gains by optimized mailing routines. Old age was the strongest determinant of partial nonresponse. The data provide evidence that design and mailing strategies, as well as demographic characteristics, may greatly influence the response rate of mailed epidemiologic questionnaires.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The assessment of functional impairment in fibromyalgia (FM): Rasch analyses of 5 functional scales and the development of the FM Health Assessment Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: Functional assessment by self-report questionnaire plays an important role in most rheumatic conditions, but psychometric properties of questionnaires have not been studied in fibromyalgia (FM), particularly by Rasch analysis, which allows for examining adequacy of the questionnaire scale. To assess currently used instruments, we examined the Fibromyalgia Impact Scale (FIQ), 4 versions of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and the Medical Outcome Survey Short Form (SF-36). METHODS: More than 2,500 patients from 4 sites (3 US, 1 Israel) completed the FIQ. The HAQ questionnaires were completed by 1438 patients participating in the US National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases. Seven hundred sixty patients from Wichita, Kansas, completed the SF-36. Rasch analysis was applied separately to each of these data sets. RESULTS: The FIQ systematically underestimated functional impairment by its handling of activities not usually performed. All questionnaires had problems with non-unidimensionality and ambiguous items when applied to patients with FM. In addition, scales were found to be non-linear. Because of these findings we used the 20 item HAQ questionnaire as an item bank to develop a new questionnaire more suitable for use in FM, the fibromyalgia HAQ (FHAQ). This questionnaire fits the Rasch model well, is relevant, is linear, and has a long, well spaced scale. CONCLUSION: No available functional assessment questionnaire works well in FM. A new questionnaire, the FHAQ, was developed. It has appropriate metric properties and should function well in this condition. Since the FHAQ is a subset of the larger HAQ questionnaire, a new questionnaire is not required; only a different method of scoring is needed. Additional studies regarding sensitivity to change are required to fully validate the FHAQ.

Disability Evaluation↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of childhood asthma and allergy in an inner city Malaysian community: intra-observer reliability of two translated international questionnaires.

OBJECTIVES: (a) To examine the intra-observer reliability of the Malay language versions of two international respiratory questionnaires i.e. the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children (ISAAC) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) questionnaires, and (b) using the more reliable of these questionnaires, to estimate the prevalence of asthma and allergy related symptoms in an ethnically homogenous inner city community in Kuala Lumpur. METHODS: The study was conducted among 7 to 12 year old school children of Malay ethnic origin living in an inner city area of Kuala Lumpur. The sample consisted of 787 children attending the only primary school in the area. The Malay versions of both questionnaires were administered twice, one month apart, and were completed by parents. Agreement between the first and second responses to the same questions were assessed by Cohen's kappa. Kappa values < 0.4 were indicative of poor intra-observer reliability, 0.4-0.59 moderate reliability, 0.6-0.79 good reliability and > 0.79 excellent reliability. RESULTS: 77.9% and 36.3% of parents responded to the first and second administrations of the questionnaires respectively. Kappa values of > 0.4 were obtained in 15/16 (93.8%) and 17/27 (63.0%) questions of the ISAAC and ATS questionnaires respectively. Excellent kappa values were obtained in 4/16 (25%) questions of the ISAAC questionnaire versus only 1/27 (3.7%) questions of the ATS questionnaire. From the ISAAC questionnaire, all questions on wheeze had good reliability while those on asthma had excellent reliability. Questions on allergic symptoms had poor to moderate reliability. In contrast, from the ATS questionnaire, questions on wheeze had moderate reliability while questions on asthma were excellently reliable. Questions on allergic symptoms had moderate to good reliability while those on cough, phlegm and bronchitis had poor reliability. According to the ISAAC questionnaire the prevalence of ever wheeze, wheeze in the last 12 months, ever asthma and wheeze with exercise in the last 12 months was 12.5%, 6.6%, 10.3% and 5.9% respectively. The prevalence of ever sneeze or runny nose, sneeze or runny nose in the last 12 months, watery eyes in the last 12 months and ever eczema was 15.2%, 11.1%, 4.4% and 8.5% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The translated ISAAC questionnaire was more reliable than the translated ATS questionnaire. Asthma and related symptoms were common among Malay school children in inner city Kuala Lumpur.

Asthma↗
PubMed2002

[Validation of a self-administered functional evaluation questionnaire after surgical treatment of lumbar spine stenosis].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The main aim of this prospective, multicentric, observational study was to validate a self-administered quality-of-life questionnaire for patients with lumbar spine stenosis treated surgically. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The self-administered questionnaire was composed of eight questions exploring three dimensions: lumbalgia, radiculalgia, radicular ischemia. This questionnaire was associated with an index of neurological involvement (to take into account objective neurological data), and with an index of patient satisfaction (to assess the patient's perception of the impact of surgery on lumbalgia, radiculalgia, and gait disorders). The scoring scale was validated by studying the structure of the questionnaire (to ascertain the pertinence of the proposed three dimensions), by determining the questionnaire's reproducibility (intraobserver variability) and sensitivity to change, and by examining the contents of the questions (to assess the capacity of the scale to effectively measure the parameters it was designed to measure). Cronbach's alpha coefficient and principal component analysis were used to assess the questionnaire's structure. Reproducibility was tested on 49 patients who completed the self-administered questionnaire twice at a 15-day interval; intraclass correlation coefficients were determined. Sensibility was tested by correlating variation in the scores obtained pre- and postoperatively with the index of satisfaction; mean standard responses were determined. The validity of the questionnaire's content was assessed by correlating the scores obtained with the questionnaire to those obtained with three other self-administered questionnaires: SF36, EIFEL2 and GHA38. RESULTS: This work included 104 patients, 96 of whom were reviewed at consultations 6 and 12 months after surgery. The principal components analysis confirmed the presence of the three dimensions. The global Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.86. The global intraclass coefficient of correlation was 0.95, varying from 0.86 to 0.97 depending on the dimension studied. There was a good correlation (0.82) between changes in the score studied and the index of satisfaction. All the mean standardized responses were higher than 1, indicating good sensitivity to change. There was also a good correlation between the questionnaire tested and the EIFEL2 self-administered questionnaire and the following dimensions of the SF36: physical activity, physical pain, vitality, and limitation due to physical pain. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Associating a simple 8-question self-administered questionnaire with an index of satisfaction (4 questions) and an objective index of neurological involvement provided a reliable, sensitive, and reproducible assessment of the changes in functional disorders resulting from lumber stenosis before and after surgical treatment.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2002

The suitability of quality-of-life questionnaires for psoriasis research: a systematic literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To critically appraise the suitability of current quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaires for psoriasis research. DATA SOURCES: Computerized searches of 5 bibliographic databases. QUESTIONNAIRE SELECTION: Predefined criteria were used to identify QOL questionnaires in dermatologic studies. Two investigators independently assessed and agreed on multidimensional generic, dermatology-specific, and psoriasis-specific QOL questionnaires for inclusion. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted on the internal structure, reliability, and validity of the included questionnaires. DATA SYNTHESIS: Three generic, 3 dermatology-specific, and none of the psoriasis-specific questionnaires met the inclusion criteria: the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), the Dermatology Quality of Life Scales (DQOLS), the Dermatology-Specific Quality of Life Instrument (DSQL), and the Skindex-29. The generic NHP, SF-36 and SIP are well established, reliable, and valid. Although the data are not conclusive, the SF-36 was useful to assess effects of psoriasis on its component scales. The dermatology-specific DQOLS, DSQL, and Skindex-29 are relatively new and, therefore, less widely tested. Available psychometric data demonstrated the reliability and validity of all 3 dermatology-specific questionnaires. The Skindex-29 was also useful to assess change. CONCLUSIONS: None of the identified psoriasis-specific questionnaires met the inclusion criteria. Data on the suitability of the included questionnaires for psoriasis research were relatively sparse. The included generic questionnaires allow comparisons with nondermatologic diseases but do not allow assessment of relevant dermatology-specific aspects and are not sensitive to subtle effects of psoriasis on QOL. On the basis of the psychometric data of the present review, we find the Skindex-29 to be the most valuable dermatology-specific questionnaire for psoriasis research. Combination of the Skindex-29 with the generic SF-36 combines the merits of both types of questionnaires and we therefore recommend this combination.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of computerised questionnaires designed for patients referred for gastrointestinal endoscopy.

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the applicability of a computerised medical history system at the open-access endoscopy unit of a University Hospital during routine clinical practice. We studied feasibility, acceptability and reproducibility of computerised questionnaires designed for patients referred for endoscopy of either the upper or lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, partly in comparison with almost identical paper questionnaires. In the first period of the study 1134 patients were referred of whom 73% answered the paper questionnaire, and during the second period 537 patients were referred of whom 64% answered the computerised questionnaire (P less than 0.001). There was no sex dependency regarding the ability to answer both types of questionnaires. A significant age dependency regarding the ability to answer the paper questionnaires was observed for patients referred for upper and lower GI endoscopy (P less than 0.0001 and P less than 0.0001). Corresponding with this observation, the ability to answer the computerised questionnaires significantly decreased with increasing age for both groups of patients (P less than 0.0001 and P less than 0.0001). The average completion times of both computerised questionnaires, designed for the upper and lower GI tract, were 11 min. The completion times did not depend on sex, but there was a slight positive correlation with age (P less than 0.0001 with multiple R = 0.27 and P = 0.0593 with multiple R = 0.12). Answering our computerised questionnaires was consistently reported to be interesting and easy, and did not last too long according to the respondents. After patients had answered the computerised history system, the insight into their complaints had increased in 40%, and 45% could put their complaints into words more easily. Only 25% of the patients were unable to express all their complaints. A reproducibility of medical history data of 85% was observed between paper and computerised questionnaires. Our computerised questionnaires can provide us with a detailed and uniformly acquired medical history of most patients referred for GI endoscopy. They are well accepted by the patients and can be completed during the normal waiting period. The medical history data obtained with these questionnaires are quite reproducible.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Results of an inner-city school-based asthma and allergy screening pilot study: a combined approach using written questionnaires and step testing.

BACKGROUND: A questionnaire alone may not be an adequate screening tool for asthma. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an asthma questionnaire used in combination with an exercise step test is better than a questionnaire alone in screening for asthma in children and to evaluate the validity of a rhinitis questionnaire in determining atopy. METHODS: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) asthma core questionnaire was used to screen for asthma in 307 inner-city first through third graders. All children who had scores consistent with a diagnosis of asthma underwent step testing, as did a subset of children who had negative overall scores. All children who had inconsistent asthma scores and step test results underwent methacholine challenge testing. The same 307 children underwent rhinitis screening and children who had one or more positive responses on the ISAAC rhinitis questionnaire underwent skin testing as did a subset of children who had all negative responses. RESULTS: Three hundred of 307 asthma and rhinitis questionnaires were returned. Twenty-eight children (9%) had global asthma scores that were considered to be positive (5 or above). Twenty-four of these children underwent step testing as did 34 randomly selected children who had negative global asthma scores. Thirty-one (91%) of the 34 children who had negative global asthma scores had negative step tests. Similarly, 20 of 24 children (83%) of the children who had positive global asthma scores had negative step tests. Only 4 children who had positive global asthma scores were step test-positive or had reversible airway obstruction at baseline. Using a positive methacholine challenge as the gold standard for establishing bronchial hyperresponsiveness, the global asthma score derived from the eight-item ISAAC asthma questionnaire yielded a sensitivity of 64%, a specificity of 11%, a positive predictive value of 47%, and a negative predictive value of 20%. Comparing the six-item ISAAC rhinitis questionnaire results to the gold standard, skin test reactivity, the questionnaire yielded a sensitivity of 76%, a specificity of 21%, a positive predictive value of 56%, and a negative predictive value of 40%. CONCLUSIONS: Step testing was not useful as a screening tool for asthma. In addition, the ISAAC asthma questionnaire may not be a good asthma screening tool for inner-city pediatric populations, especially if the form is self-administered. Investigators should first validate both the ISAAC asthma and rhinitis screening questionnaires in the particular population to be studied before widespread asthma and allergy screening efforts are initiated using these tools.

Asthma↗
PubMed2002

Patient accept questionnaires integrated in clinical routine: a study by the Swedish National Register for Gynecological Surgery.

BACKGROUND: In 1996, the Swedish National Register for Gynecological Surgery started to collect pre- and postoperative information on patients using questionnaires given out as part of routine medical care. The information is used in providing clinical care to the patient and for quality assessment. AIMS: To evaluate patients' acceptance of questionnaires as a means of collecting information, and to investigate whether the questionnaire is a suitable tool for follow-up of patients. METHODS: In 1998, evaluations of the ordinary questionnaires were done by an evaluation questionnaire mailed to 80 patients who had been recently hysterectomized. The results were triangulated with results from the register's database and data from interviews with physicians and secretaries. RESULTS: The majority of the patients appreciated the questionnaires. Patients did not report any major problems in filling in the questionnaires. Most problems were due to administrative errors of the departments. Up to 36% of the patients missed the scheduled follow-up visit 2 months after the operation. Two out of four departments regarded the follow-up visit necessary and requested by the patients. Out of 1226 patients followed up postoperatively by questionnaire, 75% stated that they did not need any medical care. Among physicians, some distrust of questionnaires was noted. CONCLUSIONS: The patients in this study preoperatively, and for short- and long-term follow-up, accepted the questionnaire as an instrument of data collection. Questionnaires provide a more complete collection of post-treatment information than follow-up visits do. A large number of unnecessary follow-up visits can be avoided through use of a questionnaire.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

A parental questionnaire to evaluate children's Auditory Behavior in Everyday Life (ABEL).

The Auditory Behavior in Everyday Life (ABEL) questionnaire was developed to assess parental perceptions of their children's auditory behavior. The original 49-item questionnaire was intended to assess auditory communication, environmental awareness, functional independence, and social/ communication skills. Our goal was to capture some of the changes in children's everyday auditory behavior in a reliable and easily quantifiable manner. Parents of 28 children aged 4 to 14 years with varying degrees of hearing loss (mild-profound) completed the questionnaire. The results were used to examine the reliability and factor structure of the questionnaire. Eleven items had poor item-total correlations. After these items were removed, the questionnaire had an overall reliability of 0.94 (Cronbach's alpha), and three factors accounted for 20.5% of the variance in the data. In a pilot investigation of the ABEL to determine its appropriateness for children with cochlear implants, questionnaires were also given to a separate group of parents of seven children aged 3 to 12 years who were about to receive a cochlear implant. Questionnaire and speech perception results were obtained preimplant and at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months. Complete (6 visits) or near-complete (4 visits) results were obtained for four children. There were significant improvements over time for both speech perception and questionnaire ratings and there was significant agreement between the two measures. Overall the results indicate excellent reliability and validity of the ABEL questionnaire. Our intent was to develop a simple, quick tool for parents to rate children's auditory skills in everyday life. A shorter questionnaire can be achieved by eliminating items with the poorest reliability and factor loadings. The resultant 24-item ABEL questionnaire has an excellent overall reliability of 0.95. The items fall within three factors, "Aural-oral," "Auditory Awareness," and "Social/Conversational Skills." Children's auditory behavior can be assessed using an overall rating or separately for the three factors. Further research is needed to evaluate this short version of the questionnaire in children wearing hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Doubly labelled water validation of three physical activity questionnaires.

This study investigated the validity of the Baecke Questionnaire, the Five City Project Questionnaire, and the Tecumseh Community Health Study Questionnaire in 19 Flemish males, using correlation and multiple stepwise regression analyses. The three questionnaires are commonly used physical activity questionnaires in epidemiological studies. The physical activity level (PAL) as measured with the doubly labelled water method was used as the criterion. The Baecke total activity index showed the highest correlation coefficient with PAL (r = 0.69, p < 0.001). Also the sweat index from the Five City Project Questionnaire, and total daily energy expenditure from the Tecumseh Community Health Study Questionnaire showed significant associations with PAL, respectively 0.57 (p < 0.05) and 0.64 (p < 0.01). Multiple stepwise regression analyses supported the findings from the correlation study. The largest individual contribution in PAL was from the activity index (45%) for the Baecke Questionnaire, the sweat index (29%) for the Five City Project Questionnaire, and total daily energy expenditure (38%) for the Tecumseh Community Health Study Questionnaire. In conclusion, the questionnaires, and certainly the Baecke Questionnaire, can provide valid data about physical activity. Therefore they are useful in epidemiological studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of two diet history questionnaires that measure usual food intake.

This study was conducted during the preparation of a case-control study on patients with adenomatous polyps or cancer of the large bowel. It was done to compare two dietary history methods for assessing individual current dietary intakes. Subjects were interviewed concerning their food consumption by meal in one of the questionnaires and by broad food groups in the other questionnaire. Two groups of 20 volunteers, comparable according to sex and age, were interviewed by a dietitian who used one of the questionnaires. Data on diets obtained with the questionnaire were compared with those of a 14-day dietary record. The subjects were informed of the importance of the validation procedure. Whatever the type of questionnaire, mean daily intakes of nutrients and foods were rather similar for the questionnaires and for the 14-day records. Thus, there were more significant correlations between the questionnaire by meal and the record than between the questionnaire by food group and the record. When using tertiles, it appears that the questionnaire by meal was better at classifying individuals with regard to their food intake than the questionnaire by food groups. Although extrapolating these results to a patient population is not straightforward, it seemed likely that interviewing patients on diet without using a pattern of meals would prove even less reliable than for healthy subjects. The questionnaire by meal was preferred to the questionnaire by food groups for the ongoing case-control study. Further studies are needed to know whether these results could be extrapolated to studies on past diet and to non-Latin populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Validation in London of a physical activity questionnaire for use in a study of postmenopausal osteopaenia.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the validity of a self administered physical activity questionnaire to be used as part of a screening device for postmenopausal osteopaenia (with additional questions on medical history and calcium intake). DESIGN: A questionnaire was posted to 86 perimenopausal women to enquire about weekly hours spent in non-sedentary activity at work, in the household, and during leisure hours. Subjects who returned the questionnaire were visited at home and asked to complete a four day activity diary and subsequently to undertake a submaximal estimate of VO2 MAX, carried out using a treadmill ergometer. They were interviewed to clarify questionnaire and diary entries. Questionnaire validity was assessed in comparison with the diary estimates of hours of activity and with VO2 MAX. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 86 perimenopausal women aged 43-54 years were randomly selected from a GP list in Hammersmith, London. Thirty five women (41%) returned the questionnaire. They were visited at home, given the diary to complete, and invited to attend the physiology laboratory for VO2 MAX measurements. Twenty six of the 35 (74%) completed the study and were included in the final analysis. MAIN RESULTS: Women spent an average of 51 hours per week in non-sedentary activities. Questionnaire and diary yielded similar results (51.05 versus 51.30 h/wk), and there was a good correlation between diary and questionnaire estimates of total weekly hours of non-sedentary activity (r = 0.45, p < 0.05). Other significant correlations were for standing (r = 0.69, p < 0.01), leisure activities (r = 0.66, p < 0.01), and for light household activities (r = 0.42, p < 0.05). Correlations were better for employed than non-employed subjects. In relation to the diary, the questionnaire correctly classified 60% into the top or bottom half of the distribution activity. Sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaire were both equal to 61.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire is useful for classifying subjects according to their level of activity, especially when administered in conjunction with an interview. The four day diary provided a useful reference measure and a focus for discussing activity patterns during an interview related to the questionnaire responses.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1998

Response rate according to title and length of questionnaire.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how response rates to a postal questionnaire are affected by title and length of the survey instrument. Five questionnaires, which differed according to title and length, were designed. Each questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of one thousand Norwegian women aged, 35-49 years. A total of 3,106 questionnaires were returned (62.1%). The highest response rate (70.2%) was achieved by a two-page questionnaire entitled "Women and Cancer". An otherwise identical questionnaire entitled "Oral Contraceptives and Cancer" had a response rate of 60.7%. Questionnaires entitled "Women and Cancer" with a length of four and six pages had a response rate of 62.8% and 63.3%, respectively. The four page questionnaire entitled "Women, Lifestyle and Health" had the lowest response rate of 57.1%. This study shows that in a general population of Norwegian women the title of a postal questionnaire influences the response rate. The results indicate that although the shortest questionnaire had the highest response rate, the most extensive survey instrument did not have the lowest response rate. The distribution of risk factors for breast cancer did not vary according to response rate or design of questionnaire. The overall findings of this study suggest that the benefits from the increased information obtained from extensive postal questionnaires out-weighs a potential non-response bias due to a somewhat lower response rate.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Predictors of non-response to a questionnaire survey of a volunteer twin panel: findings from the Australian 1989 twin cohort.

Questionnaire surveys, while more economical, typically achieve poorer response rates than interview surveys. We used data from a national volunteer cohort of young adult twins, who were scheduled for assessment by questionnaire in 1989 and by interview in 1996-2000, to identify predictors of questionnaire non-response. Out of a total of 8536 twins, 5058 completed the questionnaire survey (59% response rate), and 6255 completed a telephone interview survey conducted a decade later (73% response rate). Multinomial logit models were fitted to the interview data to identify socioeconomic, psychiatric and health behavior correlates of non-response in the earlier questionnaire survey. Male gender, education below University level, and being a dizygotic rather than monozygotic twin, all predicted reduced likelihood of participating in the questionnaire survey. Associations between questionnaire response status and psychiatric history and health behavior variables were modest, with history of alcohol dependence and childhood conduct disorder predicting decreased probability of returning a questionnaire, and history of smoking and heavy drinking more weakly associated with non-response. Body-mass index showed no association with questionnaire non-response. Despite a poor response rate to the self-report questionnaire survey, we found only limited sampling biases for most variables. While not appropriate for studies where socioeconomic variables are critical, it appears that survey by questionnaire, with questionnaire administration by telephone to non-responders, will represent a viable strategy for gene-mapping studies requiring that large numbers of relatives be screened.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Study of psychometric properties of two new questionnaires assessing beliefs in hypochondriasis in a non-clinical population].

Most instruments focussing on hypochondriasis symptoms do not have for goal to assess beliefs specifically. Instead, these instruments are used to measure specific behaviors. To assess underlying beliefs with these kinds of instruments, you have to extract false beliefs by deduction. In cognitive therapy, it is important to target erroneous beliefs in order to change them. On the other hand, existing instruments are not really suitable to target erroneous health beliefs. Even if some questionnaires are built to assess beliefs directly, it seems that they only measure the conviction of having an illness and do not assess the general health beliefs present in excessive health worriers. However, many researchers argue that this other kind of beliefs are the ones responsible in maintaining hypochondriasis symptoms. Presently, researchers assume that erroneous beliefs can maintain worries about illness among people with hypochondriasis symptoms like false beliefs about worry maintain worries in people with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Even if the importance of false beliefs in the maintenance of pathological worries is now recognized, most instruments on hypochondriasis symptoms do not have for goal to assess erroneous beliefs concerning worry about health. For instance, although the questionnaire Why do people worry? (WW) shows good psychometric properties and measures beliefs related to general worries, this questionnaire is not specific enough to correctly evaluate beliefs associated to health worry. A new questionnaire has to emerge in order to assess false beliefs associated to worry about health. This manuscript presents the development and the validation of a new questionnaire: the General Health Beliefs Questionnaire (GHBQ) that assesses general health beliefs, and also presents the development and the validation of a new questionnaire assessing beliefs associated to worry about health: the Why do people Worry about Health? (WW-H) . In this study, the GHBQ's and the WW-H's psychometric qualities and the factorial structure were assessed. More precisely, this study examined the factorial structure, the temporal stability, the convergent, divergent and criteria validities of the GHBQ and the WW-H. Four hundred and twenty nine French-speaking university students (non-clinical participants) completed a battery of questionnaires at the beginning of a class. The questionnaires were: The General Health Beliefs Questionnaire (GHBQ), the Why do people Worry about Health (WW-H), the Illness Worry Scale (IWS), the Beck Depression Inventory-short form (BDI-short form) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). A second administration took place three weeks later with the same sample to test the temporal stability of the GHBQ and the WW-H. The principal component analysis with orthogonal rotation (varimax) supports a five components solution for the GHBQ: 1) magical thinking, 2) health, 3) consequences, 4) responsibility, and 5) vulnerability. The principal component analysis with oblique rotation (direct oblimin) (d=0) found a two components solution for the WW-H: 1) utility and 2) magical thinking associated to worries about health. The internal consistency of the GHBQ and the WW-H is excellent (a=.80 and a=.90, respectively). A correlation of 0.49 was found between the GHBQ and the WW-H. The correlation between the GHBQ and the IWS who evaluates the tendency to worry (r=.50) and between the WW-H and the IWS (r=.49) showed that the convergent validity of these questionnaires is adequate. On a three weeks interval, the GHBQ (r=.70) and the WW-H (r=.71) showed a satisfying temporal stability. The means of the high worriers (80 superior percentile at the IWS) (M=38.8, ET=8.93) and the means of the moderate worriers (between the 40 and the 60 percentile at the IWS) (M=32.8, ET=8.00) on the GHBQ have been compared. A significant difference has been found between the two groups [F(1,181)=23,129, p<0,001]. Also, the means of the high worriers (M=27.3, ET=8.59) and the means of the moderate worriers (M=23.8, ET=8.56) on the WW-H haveave been compared. An ANOVA has found a significant difference between these two groups [F(1,180)=7,396, p=0,007]. These results show that general health beliefs and false beliefs associated to worry about health are more often present in high worriers than in moderate worriers. The GHBQ and the WW-H allow psychologists, physicians and psychiatrists to do a quicker and more exhaustive evaluation of general health beliefs and false beliefs associated to worry about health, in less costs. These questionnaires will improve the chances of success of the hypochondriasis' treatment by helping clinicians to detect and correct false beliefs more easily.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Quality of life in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel disease: validation of the Chinese translation of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life is an important outcome measure in inflammatory bowel disease. The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire is a quality of life questionnaire that has not been validated previously in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel disease. AIM: To develop and validate a Chinese translation of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, specifically determining its construct validity, discriminant ability, reliability and sensitivity to change. METHODS: We developed a Chinese version of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire. Chinese patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis completed the Chinese Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire and visual analogue scales measuring systemic, social, bowel and emotional well-being. Patients also completed a validated Chinese SF-36 generic quality of life questionnaire, the Crohn's disease activity index or the clinical activity index for ulcerative colitis. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-five patients (59 with Crohn's disease and 76 with ulcerative colitis) were enrolled, 99 of whom also completed the Chinese Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire for a second time. The Chinese Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire correlated well with the SF-36 for all four domains (Spearman: r = 0.55-0.80), the Crohn's disease activity index (r = -0.62-0.72) and the clinical activity index for ulcerative colitis (r = -0.44-0.68), as well as with the visual analogue scales. The Chinese Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire accurately distinguished between active and inactive disease. Test-re-test reliability showed excellent intra-class correlation (0.76-0.92; all P < 0.001). The Chinese Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire was also sensitive to changes in disease activity (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The Chinese Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire is a valid and reliable test that correlates well with the patients' subjective well-being and clinical disease activity.

Adolescent↗